Will the Mammoth Make the Playoffs
Judging a team like the Utah Mammoth based off two consecutive losses is unfair.
But seeing as how the Mammoth didn't just fall apart to Carolina- when it allowed three goals in the final two minutes, losing 5-4 outright in regulation- but it couldn't rally against in its 3-2 home loss to the Dallas Stars, it is easy to feel discouraged.
"I feel like throughout the whole game, they (Dallas) made really good plays; they put a lot of pressure on us, especially D-zone draws for us," said JJ Peterka. "We had trouble executing and getting out of that zone. You have to give them credit for that.”
Add in the pressure of an especially competitive year in NHL, so full of parity that the two-time Stanley Cup champions seriously may lose its playoff spot to the the drought-ridden Buffalo Sabres, it isn't a surprise that every game is being put on a microscope.
The league feels truly unpredictable and the Mammoth have been in a prime position to take advantage of this chaos. Utah is looking to steal a playoff spot away after all.
Recently, the Mammoth have been rising above the chaos, playing its best stretch of the season in the month of January, going 10-2-1 before these recent losses to cement itself as the top Wild Card team in the Western Conference.
Plus, Utah looked to be elevating its play even with an injury to such a key player like Logan Cooley. Instead of faltering behind, Utah has seen players rise up to the challenge.
Though the Mammoth have lost back-to-back games, Kailer Yamamoto is having his own wild run, scoring four goals in a two game span and this is coming from a player who has plugged from first to fourth line whenever an injury occurs.
Utah has played incredibly well recently and it looks like a team hungry for a playoff spot.
But let's get back to Utah's two most recent losses.
The 5-4 loss Utah had to the Hurricanes- otherwise known as the Hartford Whalers- will be one of the most painful losses of the season.
To somehow lose that game in regulation despite being up 4-2 with less than two minutes to go will haunt Utah if it ends up a point or two short of the playoffs.
Even more discouraging, the Mammoth come back home after a respectable 2-2 road stretch- with its only two losses coming from the Division leading Hurricanes and Lightning- just to put up only 14 shots on goal against a formidable opponent in the Stars.
To put into perspective how rough of a game it was for the Mammoth's offense, those 14 shots were the lowest Utah has had in a game all season.
While January has been a great month for Utah, but the month is ending with the Mammoth simultaneously having its biggest collapse of the season and its worst offensive performance.
But it is important not to overreact to these losses. Utah certainly wants to show it can hang with the best teams in the league, but these two teams are some of the best for a reason.
And though Utah still loss both games, it took a miracle comeback from Carolina and one of Dallas' best defensive performances of the year to beat this team. There is plenty of optimism still to be had for the Mammoth.
As of now, Utah is still holding onto the top Wild Card spot with 60 points. But a large threat looms with the Anaheim Ducks, LA Kings and San Jose Sharks all tied at 59 points a piece.
Plus, the Seattle Kraken- who are currently third place in the Pacific Division- only are at 61 points.
Things couldn't be tighter in West and the Mammoth are certainly aware of that.
"At some point in this league, if you feel sorry for yourself, everybody will step in your throat, and nobody will let you get back up," said André Tourigny after the loss to Dallas. "So there's no feeling sorry for yourself."
A lead is still a lead at the end of the day. So even if these two losses are particularly painful, Utah has played its way into a great playoff-bound position for the moment.
Only two games remain- starting with the league-worst Vancouver Canucks- before the Mammoth go on its long three week break for the Olympics.
If Utah can take care of business with a win against Vancouver, stopping the losing streak early, Utah will find itself in a good place before the break.
Even better, if the Mammoth can beat the Red Wings in the subsequent game, Utah will go into the Olympic break with a win against one of the best teams in the NHL.
Utah certainly can accomplish its goal of becoming a playoff team this year. This team has shown how well it can play even when injured. But if the Mammoth squander these next two games, it will be a huge disservice to itself.